SPSU secures $1.4 million UTeach Grant to fund teacher program

SPSU secures $1.4 million UTeach Grant to fund teacher program

Marietta, Ga. (July 14, 2011) – The governor’s Office of Planning and Budget announced
this week that it will award Southern Polytechnic State University (SPSU) approximately
$1.4 million in Race to the Top funding. This grant will help the university launch
its new teacher preparation program, which will offer degrees in Biology, Chemistry,
Mathematics and Physics with an education track leading to certification.

SPSU is one of three Georgia universities receiving these funds as the result of a
highly competitive process. The Race to the Top Fund is a $4.35 billion U.S. Department
of Education program designed to encourage educational innovation and reform.

The funds will allow SPSU to replicate UTeach, a successful national model teacher
preparation program. SPSU’s plan to establish such a program was approved by the University
System of Georgia Board of Regents in June, and the university will begin offering
courses towards its new teacher preparation program in Spring 2012.

The UTeach program enables future secondary teachers (grades 6-12) to become highly
qualified in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
A successful UTeach pilot program at the University of Texas at Austin has been replicated
on 22 campuses nationwide to date.

SPSU, the University of West Georgia and Columbus State University will be the first
universities to implement UTeach in Georgia, and SPSU is the first polytechnic university
in the U.S. to do so.

Since 2001, more than 550 students have graduated from the UTeach program. More than
80 percent of UTeach graduates are still teaching five years after graduating and
almost half of them teach in high-need schools.

“The UTeach program is a natural fit for SPSU as a polytechnic,” said Dr. George Stickel,
who will direct SPSU’s teacher education program, SPSUTeach. “UTeach focuses on mathematics
and science, and since over 77 percent of our students are in STEM fields, this program
will serve our students and community well.”

Stickel added, “We will start offering the introductory education classes for SPSUTeach
in the spring of 2012 and will follow with the other courses. We will work closely
with the Georgia Professional Standards Commission to obtain program approval and
accreditation by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.”

The UTeach Grant will fund the hiring of master teachers with recent public school
experience and current certifications to provide intense mentoring for the teacher
candidates. The money also will go towards the purchase laboratory and computer equipment
and supplies, as well as the training of SPSU personnel conducting the program.